The Food of Downton Abbey: Edwardian Roasted Garlic and Spinach White Bean Soup

As fans of the internationally acclaimed television series Downton Abbey are very aware of, the American release of season three is just a few days away and there is really no better way to celebrate than enjoying the food of the era when the show takes place. So as you get ready to venture back into the abbey for another season, settle down with some wonderful authentic Edwardian cuisine.

When it comes to the great soups of the culinary world there is a belief that the "heartier the better." If this is in fact true, then this soup should rank right up there in the top ten. Here you have a soup laden with natural flavors and a texture which will play with your tongue with each and every bite. You might think that with an entire head of roasted garlic it is overpowering. Not at all. Due to the fact the garlic is roasted, the pungency of the so-called "stinking rose" is almost nullified and what you get is a slight sweetness. If you have never roasted garlic before, it is quite simple and you can find out how to do it here.

So as an estimated ten million people will be tuning in for the season three debut of the acclaimed Downton Abbey, enjoy the saga of the Crawley family while dining on one of the great soups of the Edwardian era.

For a complete how-to slideshow on making this soup, go to the free Facebook page The Food of Downton Abbey.

Ingredients needed to make Edwardian Roasted Garlic and Spinach White Bean Soup (serves 4):

• 1 head of roasted garlic
• 1 Tbs. oil
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1 Tbs. brown sugar
• 1 pound spinach, stems removed and leaves chopped
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 2 green onions
• 1 15-ounce can white beans, drained

Steps:

1. Remove the garlic from the cloves and mash with the tines of a fork.
2. In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and brown sugar and saute 5 minutes.
3. Add the spinach and saute 2 minutes.
4. Stir in the chicken stock, garlic and green onions and bring the soup to a simmer. Simmer the soup for 20 minutes.
5. Add the white beans and cook the soup 10 minutes.
6. Ladle into serving bowls, top with some fresh croutons and serve.

The new cookbook from Chef Larry Edwards is now available from Amazon.com and bookstores worldwide. One of the most anticipated cookbooks of the year, "Edwardian Cooking: Inspired by Downton Abbey's Elegant Meals."